This recipe, however, uses one unconventional ingredient

3:16 PM,
Nov. 16, 2012

The savory mix of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger gives this pie its classic flavor.

Written by

Susan M. Selasky
| GANNETT

Do you have pie dough-making phobia? If so, now's the time to tackle that fear.

Making your own pie dough is, well, easy as pie. The ingredients couldn't be simpler: flour, salt, butter or shortening, and ice water plus vodka.

Using vodka for part of the liquid is a method we picked up years ago from the folks at Cook's Illustrated. It's our standby method in the Free Press Test Kitchen. It makes a dough that rolls out easily and perfectly. Why? Vodka, which is 40 percent ethanol and 60 percent water, allows you to add enough liquid to make the dough easier to roll out without tearing. Plus, gluten does ...